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What to see in Russia

Russia Attractions

Russia holds a wealth of sightseeing opportunities across all
nine of its time zones, incorporating the largest forestland and
freshwater supply in the world. It's little wonder that Russians
refer to their country as the Motherland - it is, undeniably, a
bountiful place. Seeing Russia in all her glory would be a mighty,
and time-consuming, feat.

Most visitors will stop first at the popular cities of the
northwest, Moscow and St Petersburg, notable for the roles they
played in the Napoleonic Wars and World War II. Moscow was the site
of the bloodiest battle Napoleon described as ever having seen,
while St Petersburg was witness to both the Russian Revolution of
the 1700s and the Russian Civil War of the 1900s. Thus both cities
boast an abundance of ornate war memorials, museums and sites
dedicated to their cataclysmic history.

In St Petersburg, the State Hermitage Museum captures ancient to
modern Russian history in the six buildings which make up the
Winter Palace - the former residence of the tsars. The Moscow
Kremlin is a citadel complex, the most popular of the Kremlin
buildings; alongside it is Red Square, Moscow's broad and bustling
city square adorned by the famous Basil Cathedral. The Bolshoi
Ballet Theatre, in neighbouring Theatre Square, is one of the most
ornate theatres in the world and is home to the world's oldest and
most successful ballet company. Russian architecture is an
attraction unto itself and the cathedrals of Moscow in particular
prove a popular marvel for tourists.

There is, however, more to see in the west by way of both
history and natural splendour. Russia is jokingly referred to as
the 'lungs of Europe' due to the expansive forestland, which is
said to absorb about 15 percent of the world's carbon dioxide. As
you progress east, the forest becomes more dense and overwhelming.
The best way to take in the Russian countryside is by train, as the
Trans-Siberian Railway winds southeast from Moscow on the same
route that once transported prisoners of Stalin's Purges to gulag
labour camps. Those in search of natural beauty should also
consider travelling down to Lake Baikal, the deepest and largest
lake (by volume) in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
where there are several beautiful resorts along the lakeside.

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